Posted on 03/18/2016 7:03:37 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
No, I don't think he will -- not the nomination, not the presidency. But since that's what just about everyone thinks, let's play around a little and try to imagine how Cruz could at least imitate Barry Goldwater and become the G.O.P. nominee. Here's The Federalist's Ben Domenech with three reasons why the conventional wisdom on Cruz might be wrong:
First: Ted Cruz matches up with the activist base better than any other significant candidate in a long time. I don't think people outside of that base really understand how powerful Cruz's appeal is to the populist energized conservative voter, which is of course just a faction of the right, but is a sizable faction ... And he doesn't just match up with them on policy, he matches up with their brashness, their yearning for someone who loves the taste of blood in his mouth ...
Second: To the degree that this is a nomination battle about who has done the most to fight the Obama administration about two key issues - amnesty and Obamacare - Ted Cruz can claim that mantle and beat his opponents over the head with their stances on these topics. We underestimate how going soft on both of these issues is going to play in the GOP primary this cycle, particularly in the early going. As I've noted before, most of the candidates this time around are in roughly the same position on immigration: either full throatedly in favor of reform or tepidly in favor of it. But there is no indication that the position of the party base is at all moderated compared to 2012, and Obama's approach to executive amnesty has made the issue all the more toxic. Cruz can argue that his only fault is boldness....
(Excerpt) Read more at douthat.blogs.nytimes.com ...
CRUZ 2016
"I am the 12.36% !"
You’re assuming that Trump isn’t winning any.
I Stand With Ted.
But, Trump is likely to win the nomination. At that point, I am putting Trump stickers on my car and signs in my yard.
This article is not entirely wrong in it’s analysis . . . Cruz COULD win, but it will take a sudden change of the winds. Facts are stubborn things.
Cruz should continue campaigning vigorously on to the convention, without ever personally attacking or belittling Trump, regardless of how things play out. We need to win in November. Only Trump or Cruz can do that.
Those are just my opinions.
Yep. It’s impossible.
Very unlikely Cruz wins the nomination but likely that Trump will.
I’ll vote for either in the general.
Nothing but a spoiler. Doing the dirty work of the GOPe. The stain is on his hands.
The Zodiac Killer meme going around is actually hilarious.
I do think they may be on to something though...
Ted Cruz's Age = 45
People Zodiac Killed = 37
Ted has 2 kids
Cruz is from Canada aka "The 6"
45-37-2= 6
Ted Cruz = The Zodiac Killer
I looked to see what states are remaining for primaries.
Too many in the east that won’t vote for Cruz.
I really think those states will break for Kasich.
Shakin’ my head.
They (including Cruz supporter Glenn Beck) have called for the assassination of Trump.
Link?
IMHO, there is no way Cruz could win the General.
Cruz is Far Right. The “Independent” (aka Moderate) voters will NEVER vote for a Far Right candidate.
So while Republicans could coalesce around Cruz, they will always be less than 50% of the national vote, and Cruz won’t get the Moderates. Therefore, he absolutely can not win the General.
Like Maine didn’t?
Casper Milquetoast!
Good point. And I’m still surprised over it.
I guess we’ll see what happens with New York/New Jersey.
A cousin of my husband’s who is well off and a Christian conservative revealed some interesting information to me recently. As we were stuck in traffic after visiting her mom she asked about the elections knowing that I follow politics closely. I told her that I felt Trump was the one I felt most strongly about based on reading tea leaves. She surprised me by saying that although her and her husband had supported Cruz in his senate bid and to a smaller extent his bid for the presidency in the first phase, she related conversations amongst her circle of upper class connections that gave her pause. I will call this cousin Mrs. M, she told me that she began to wonder about Cruz when she went to lunch with some ladies from her church, one of which explained her son’s reaction to Cruz in a very negative fashion. This son apparently worked with Cruz at a law firm in Houston. She said the son of her friend was of a very upright and well-bred character. Then another lady friend of hers had a lunch and when politics came up she warned that any discussion of Cruz in front of her husband was not recommended as her husband had a strong dislike of him from having worked in the legal arena with him. Mrs. M said that she kept filing away these instances in her mind and the final one came when her husband arrived home late from an afternoon with friends at a country club. He said they spent some time discussing politics and again a very wealthy fellow who had residence in Houston and NYC spoke about Cruz very negatively while talking about what kind of man Trump really was. He related that his kids were clean cut and very gracious and that doing business with the Trump organization had been a pleasure. Trump was a really good man who kept his word. None of this conversation was started by me, we just discussed the candidates and she let me know what she had found out through these opinions from her friends.
Yes. He’s a good man, a solid conservative. He will make for a phenominal president.
I sure hope he does!
“Cruz is Far Right.”
Wait. I thought he was GOPe.
Which is it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.